Feb 25, 2004

Box Score

By EDDIE PELLS
AP Sports Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Anthony Roberson made a late 3-pointer Wednesday night to trigger a 14-0 Florida run that helped turn a tie game into a 69-58 win over South Carolina.

With the game tied at 53, Roberson found a little opening between himself and the defender, elevated and swished the go-ahead shot. On the next possession, Matt Walsh hit a 3-pointer for a 59-53 lead.

Roberson led the Gators with 24 points. He, Walsh and David Lee scored all the points during the late run and the Gators (16-8, 7-6 Southeastern Conference) won their second straight since the sudden departure last week of swingman Christian Drejer, who left to play professionally in Europe.

Florida needs one more win to finish .500 in conference play, often a strong selling point to the NCAA tournament selection committee.

Also on the NCAA bubble, South Carolina (20-7, 7-6) trailed 48-43 but rallied to tie it behind two buckets and three free throws from Rolando Howell. But the Gamecocks went scoreless for three minutes down the stretch and lost for the fifth time in seven games.

Howell led South Carolina with 22 points and 10 rebounds; he was the only Gamecocks player in double figures in either category.

Walsh scored 15 points for the Gators and Lee had 12. Florida won two straight for the first time since Jan. 24-27, buoying their chances of making the tournament.

But this can hardly be mistaken for a team on a roll.

Ranked No. 1 in the nation in early December, Florida had trouble simply getting off a shot in the middle of the second half, a span during which Lee shared the floor with four freshmen – Ryan Appleby, Mohamed Abukar, Lee Humphrey and Chris Richard – none of whom were even in Billy Donovan’s rotation at the start of the season.

South Carolina took a 43-38 lead during that stretch, but Walsh responded with four points and an assist as part of a 10-0 run. South Carolina responded with a 10-5 run of its own to set up Florida’s late flurry.